Instrument repair lighting table



v F. B. KAUPER INSTRUMENT REPAIR LIGHTING TABLE March 3, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 28, 1951 INWENTORl` FEEDER/0K B. KUPER ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under Title 235, U. S. Gode. (1952),

This invention relates to improvements in assembling and disassembling apparatus, its particular purpose being to provide a stand or table on which to support a typewriterY for inspection and repair, a source of light being located in the base of the table to illuminate the mechanism from underneath, thus to make the parts stand out in relief and to make it possible to see otherwise obscure details.

The use of a turntable and a frame for the support of the Work while performing operations on it is known to be disclosed in this particular art as for example bythe patents to Michael H. Flynn, No. 1,220,507 of March 27e, 1917 and to Harold P. Bentley, No. 2,455,016 of July 13, 1948. This observation is made largely 'to'contrast the invention from devices of asimilar sort and not as an acknowledgement ofany pertinence that said devices may possess. In said devices the work is required to be clamped in place, whereas in the instant invention the work is merely set in place. 'l'he latter` provision is a. contribution toward the intended simplicity of the subject table, and in order to make an inspection or an overhaul job a relatively easy matter. The table has built into it a circular iiuorescent lamp which lloods the machine from the underside with light and relieves the re pairman from having to manage a spotlight with one hand.

From these statements it will be understood that one of the objects of the invention is to provide a repair table which is reduced to a re1-V atively few parts and which because of the ref sultant iight weight and low cost will appeal to a class of repairmen who can out of those considerations press it into widespread and lib,- eral use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a repair table wherein a circular lamp, permet,- nently installed in the base portion of the de-l vice, can be switched on to fully. illuminate the machine under inspection or repair from underneath, the permanent installation giving the re; pairmanfreeuseof bothhands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a particular combination of parts wherein the revoluble table top both has adjustable tracks for supporting various sizes of machines within limits, and provides an almostJ dust and` dirtproof closure for the light compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. mirror in the foregoing light compartment to accommodate such instances wherein a casual observation of the nethermost parts of the 'machine will suiiice thus avoiding 11p-ending the machine for inspection, said mirror being located inside of the circular lamp and near the upper contour thereof so as neither to obscure the light from the lamp nor to reveal an image which otherwise might be marred by glare from the lamp.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appro.- ciated as the Vsame becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying `drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is 'a perspective view of the improved instrument repair. table;

Fig. 2 isaplan view;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofvFig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view ofl the table omitting the turntable top, partsbeing'shown in section as though taken on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out the invention the repair table generally designated I0 in the drawings, is s hown to consist of two main parts, namely, the base ring II and the turntable l2. The iiat ring I3 ofthe turntable has a circular depending an'ge I4, which lits closely down inside of the head I6 of the base ring. Ball bearings I1 between the dat ring I3 and the head I6 of the base ring provide smooth'and easy rotation of the turntable. The head has a 'groove I8 111 which the balls run. `The balls are spaced in a ring I8. The location of the balls is as near to the perimeter of the turntable I2 as possible thereby providing a balanced support for the typewriter; a centrally supported turntable would be unstable and therefore would wobble.

A ring 20 retains the top ring I3 in place. v For this purpose it is secured to the bottom rim of the flange I4 and overlaps the inward circular projection of the head I6. The retainer ring thus holds the ball bearings in their race as far. as up and down motion is concerned. The spacer ring I9 rides the flange f4 closely and thus holds the balls as Vfar as radial motion is concerned.

A plate' 22 secured to the base ring I I forms a bottom cover.H It is also the mount for the circular fluorescent lamp tube 23 and the frame 24 of the central circular mirror 25. Brackets 26 support the mirror frame.- Brackets 28 and 28a support the tube 23. Bracket 28 is rigid and is the socket into which the lamp tube is plugged. Brackets 28o are spring loaded so as to effect easyemplacement or removal of the lamp tube 23. A large percentage of the light from the lamp tube shines upward without impediment. That part of the light volume that otherwise would be entrapped is refiected by the inside surfaces of the base ring and the bottom. The wiring of the fluorescent lamp Fig. 4 includes a commonly used ballast 29 mounted on plate 22. A push-button type switch 30 and a twin outlet 3| are installed in the base ring. A line cord is plugged into one of the receptacles. 'I'he other is a convenience when some electrical appliance is to be plugged in. Theswitch may turn the lamp on and off but4 does not cut the power from the outlet.

It is to be noted that the mirror 25 is located near the upper contour of the fluorescent lamp 23. Being centrally situated and slightly depressed t does not interrupt the halo or coneA of light which floods the work from under-H neath. But what is equally important, the image of the nethermost parts of the typewriterre.

flected by it will not be marred by the glare.

The rectangular plate 32 of the turntable I2 has a central circular opening 34 matching the rabbet 35 around the smaller central opening-of the top ring I3. These formations provide a recess in which a circular plate 36 of safety glass or an equivalent transparent pane is -tightly fitted. This completes the closure of the light compartment, rendering the latter virtually dirt and dust-proof and serving to catch screws and other metal parts or objects `that mightfall from the typewriter during repair.

Screws 31 secure the plate 32 to the ring I3 to make a unitary turntable. Parallel tracks 38 of angle brass or equivalent material, are adapted to receive the typewriter (not shown). The preferred practice is to remove the rubber feet from the typewriter and substitute working feet or pins that are screwed in place. These pins are stood on the horizontal flanges of the tracks. The upstanding flanges are notched at 4l) to provide stops or shoulders to check the typewriter from being pulled too far forward and off the turntable, especially when up-ended. In one model typewriter where the typewriter unit complete is removed from the typewriter frame, the left and right side of the unit sets between the upstanding flanges while the guides of the unit rests Aupon the top of the upstanding fianges.

An operating shaft 4| has a knob 42 with which to adjust the tracks 38. This shaft is intergeared at 43 with screw shafts 44, the rightv and left thread courses 45 and 46 of which are screwed into track nuts 48 that depend from the tracks. Upon turning the knob in appropriate directions the tracks are slid across the turntable either toward or from each other, thus to set them for the size of machine that is to be rested upon them. A scale 49 on the turntable is van aid in making the adjustment, it being graduated in half -scale inches, whereby the scale reading given is the total distance in full-scale inches from center to center of the horizontal partY of the tracks. Bearings 50 (Fig. 4) at required places on the underside of the turntable support the various shafts. The turntable is slotted at, 5l to accommodate the necks of the shouldered nuts 48 (Fig. 3). Screws are driven through the tracks into the necks of the nuts 48 from aboveto secure the two, the parts being machined to the necessary clearances to insure a smooth sliding action of the tracks Without undue looseness.

The operation of the instrument table isbriefly reviewed. It is adapted primarily to the inspec-g Ytable l2.

tion and overhauling of typewriters but, man1- festly, may be used for any comparable machine. The latter is first measured from side to side (center to center of feet) and the tracks are set accordingly by turning the knob 42 and sighting the scale graduations at the edge of the nearest track 38. The typewriter previously equipped with pins or working feet in lieu of the original rubber feet is set on the horizontal flats of the tracks. Since the tracks are spaced exactly from the axial center of the table and their adjustment is a screw feet, it follows that their distancing will remain uniform regardless of the specific dimension of a given setting.

This insures a balanced emplacement of the typewriting machine and augments the support provided by the ball bearings Il. The machine is inspected from all sides by revolving the turn- The repairman can see into the innermost recesses by turning the lamp 23 on. This floods the machine with light from beneath and both illuminates the parts and makes them stand out in relief. The machine is up-ended by lifting the front end and standing it on its back. The shoulders 40 prevent pulling the machine off the tracks in the event of bringing it too far forward toward the front.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. In a worktable, a base, a vertically extending ring mounted thereon and having a circumferential inwardly extending flange, a turntable mounted for rotation on said ring to form a chamber and having a centrally disposed circular aperture, a transparent pane mounted in said aperture, said turntable having a vertically depending ring in juxtaposition with a side of said flange thereby effectively dustproong said chamber, a pair of work supporting members mounted on said turntable for synchronous reciprocable movement toward and away from the center of the turntable to accommodate work of varying size, means for reciprocating said work supporting membersl and a mirror mounted in said chamber parallel with said transparent pane for viewing the underside of the work from a position above the turntable.

2. In an illuminated worktable, a base, a vertically extending ring mounted thereon and having a circumferential inwardly extending flange, a turntable mounted for rotation on said ring to form a chamber and having a centrally disposed circular aperture therein, a transparent pane mounted in said aperture, said turntable having a vertically depending ring in juxtaposition with a side of said flange thereby dustproofing said chamber, a pair of work supporting members mounted on said turntable for synchronous reciprocable movement toward and away from the center of the turntable to accommodate work of varying size, means for reciprocating said work supporting members, a mirror mounted in said chamber parallel with said transparent pane for viewing the underside of the Work from` a position above the turntable, and a source of illumination mounted within said chamber.

3. In a worktable, a base, a vertically extending ring mounted on said base and having a circumferential inwardly extending ange, a turntable mounted for rotation on said base ring to form a chamber therewith and having a centrally disposed circular aperture therein, a transparent pane mounted in said aperture, said turntable having a vertically depending ring in juxtaposition with a side of said flange thereby effectively dustproong said chamber, a retaining ring mounted on said depending ring for contacting an underside of said iange to maintain the assembly of the turntable and vertically extending ring, a pair of work supporting members mounted on said turntable for synchronous reciprocable movement toward and away from the center of the turntable to accommodate work of varying size, means for reciprocating said work supporting members, and a mirror mounted in said chamber parallel with said transparent pane for viewing the underside of the work from a position above the turntable.

4. In an illuminated worktable, a base, a vertically extending ring mounted on said base and having a circumferential inwardly extending iiange, a turntable mounted for rotation on said ring to form a chamber therewith and having a centrally disposed circular aperture, a transparent pane mounted in said aperture, said turntable having a vertically depending ring in juxtaposition with a side of said flange thereby effectively dustproong said chamber, a retaining ring mounted on said depending portion for contacting an underside of said iiange to maintain the assembly of the turntable and vertically extending ring, a pair of work supporting members mounted on said turntable for synchronous reciprocable movement toward and away from the center of the turntable to accommodate work of varying size, stop means formed on said work supporting members for limiting the movement of the work thereon, means for reciprocating said work supporting members, amirror mounted in said chamber parallel with said transparent pane for viewing the underside of the work from a position above the turntable, and a circular lamp tube mounted in said chamber about the periphery of said mirror to cast a iiood of light through said transparent pane and onto the work mounted thereover.

FREDERICK B. KAUPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '101,126 Hayes Mar. 22, 1870 112,342 Hooper Mar. 7, 1871 341,662 Kirkland May 11, 1886 515,986 Barnard Mar. 6, 1894 1,074,639 Moore Oct. 7, 1913 1,220,507 Flynn Mar. 27, 1917 1,492,324 Hoover Apr. 29, 1924 1,723,050 Malarkey Aug. 6, 1929 1,786,420 Braly Dec. 30. 1930 2,008,567 Simonton July 16, 1935 2,009,340 Edwards July 23, 1935 2,058,677 Fritz Oct. 27, 1936 2,090,838 Gustafson Aug. 24, 1937 2,188,677 Dickinson Jan. 30, 1940 

